Vicky Shaw

Insurers have raised concerns about fake and manipulated images being used in claims (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Tech
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Insurers warn about fake and manipulated images being used in claims

People are using technology to try to make claims for incidents that may never have happened, insurers said.
By Vicky Shaw
2 May 2024
Around nine new tenants were registered for each available rental home in March, as demand continues to outpace supply, according to Propertymark (Anthony Devlin/PA)
Money

Nine new tenants ‘registered for each available rental home in March’

Demand continues to outstrip supply, with around nine new applicants registered for each available property in March, Propertymark said.
By Vicky Shaw
2 May 2024
Banking and credit complaints have helped to drive a rise in cases, the Financial Ombudsman Service said (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Money

Financial complaints have jumped by around a fifth, says ombudsman service

Banking and credit complaints have helped to drive the increase, the Financial Ombudsman Service said.
By Vicky Shaw
1 May 2024
Virgin Money has launched a new current account switching offer (Rui Vieira/PA)
Money

Virgin Money offers 10% bonus rate for current account switchers

The bonus rate will be fixed on current account balances up to £1,000 for a year.
By Vicky Shaw
1 May 2024
<p>Almost half of would-be first-time buyers are delaying getting on the ladder because they can’t afford to</p>
Property News

Average UK house prices 4% below all-time high, says Nationwide

The building society said the typical property value fell for the second month in a row in April.

By Vicky Shaw
1 May 2024
The number of mortgage approvals made to home buyers jumped in March to the highest level since September 2022, according to Bank of England figures (Yui Mok/PA)
Politics

Home-buyer mortgage approvals jump to highest level since September 2022

Home sales across the UK also increased in March, for the third month in a row.
By Vicky Shaw
30 Apr 2024
Average advertised rents have hit a new record high, but there are signs that the pace of the increases is slowing, according to Rightmove (Yui Mok/PA)
Money

Advertised rents ‘hit fresh highs but pace of increases is slowing’

Rightmove said there are signs that more landlords are having to reduce their asking rents to meet what tenants can afford.
By Vicky Shaw
30 Apr 2024
A forecast service from HM Revenue & Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions allows people under state pension age to view gaps in their national insurance record and pay voluntary contributions (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Money

New digital service could help people boost their state pension

The service will show people how much their state pension could increase by and details of the voluntary NI contributions they would need to pay.
By Vicky Shaw
29 Apr 2024
Prices for smaller homes such as flats have been increasing at a faster rate than bigger properties amid affordability constraints, Halifax said (Anthony Devlin/PA)
Money

Prices of flats increasing more sharply than other property types, says Halifax

One way to compensate for higher borrowing costs is to target smaller properties, the bank said.
By Vicky Shaw
29 Apr 2024
The average price paid for comprehensive motor insurance was around a third or £157 higher in the first quarter of this year than a year earlier, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers (Ben Birchall/PA)
Money

Average price paid for motor insurance jumps by a third in a year

Insurers are absorbing significant cost rises but keeping prices relatively stable, the Association of British Insurers said.
By Vicky Shaw
29 Apr 2024
Complaints relating to current accounts and credit cards increased in the second half of last year, according to figures from the Financial Conduct Authority (Joe Giddens/PA)
Money

Current account and credit card and complaints increased in last half of 2023

Some £259 million was paid out in redress in the second half of 2023, according to data from the Financial Conduct Authority.
By Vicky Shaw
26 Apr 2024
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Money

DWP Waspi compensation: who could be entitled?

The bill’s second reading was rescheduled to May 17

By Vicky ShawNuray Bulbul
25 Apr 2024
Members of the Association of British Insurers have committed to new steps to help manage the amount that people paying monthly for their motor insurance are charged (Ben Birchall/PA)
Money

Insurance principles aim to manage cost of paying monthly for motor cover

The principles are part of a raft of actions to tackle the cost of motor insurance, the Association of British Insurers said.
By Vicky Shaw
25 Apr 2024
Between October 1 and December 31, Nationwide made 163,363 net gains in terms of full account switches, according to the Current Account Switch Service (Mike Egerton/PA)
Money

Nationwide, Barclays and Lloyds current account switch ‘winners’ at end of 2023

Between October 1 and December 31, Nationwide made 163,363 net gains in terms of full account switches, the Current Account Switch Service said.
By Vicky Shaw
25 Apr 2024
HMRC announced plans to shake-up its helpline services on March 19 but it halted them on March 20 following an outcry (PA Archive)
Money

Halt to plans for helpline shake-up has impacted services, says HMRC boss

A lower proportion of calls is being answered than if HMRC had been able to implement helpline changes, Jim Harra told MPs.
By Vicky Shaw
24 Apr 2024
People contacting a financial scams helpline over the past year have typically lost more than £16,000, according to the Money and Pensions Service (Tim Goode/PA)
Money

More than £16,000 typically lost to scams, according to helpline figures

People contacting a dedicated helpline between April 2023 and March 2024 lost £13.6 million in total, the Money and Pensions Service said.
By Vicky Shaw
24 Apr 2024
MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has warned that some Barclaycard customers could be in debt for significantly longer and end up paying more in interest, due to a minimum repayments change (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Money

Martin Lewis urges Barclaycard customers to ‘check now’ about payment changes

Some people may see the total cost of their debt double by the time they clear what they owe, Mr Lewis warned.
By Vicky Shaw
24 Apr 2024
Which? said some banks need to address potential ‘loopholes’ in their online security arrangements (Yui Mok/PA)
Money

Which? urges banks to address online security ‘loopholes’

With many people increasingly banking online or on their phones, it is crucial that security protections are up to scratch, Which? said.
By Vicky Shaw
24 Apr 2024
Aberdeen has been identified by Rightmove as the cheapest city for first-time buyers (Andrew Milligan/PA Archive)
Money

Britain’s most and least expensive cities to buy a first home or rent revealed

The soaring costs of renting has meant buying has remained attractive even with higher mortgage rates, Rightmove said.
By Vicky Shaw
24 Apr 2024
Several banks have recently ended offers of cash to switch (PA)
Money

Cash to switch offers on current accounts disappear

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk said customers should still find a better deal if their current account is not meeting their needs.
By Vicky Shaw
23 Apr 2024
Cornwall is among the locations that have seen a particularly strong jump in the supply of homes for sale, according to property website Zoopla (David Davies/PA)
Money

Surge in supply of homes for sale in some seaside locations, Zoopla finds

Across Britain generally, the choice of properties has increased by around a fifth compared with a year ago, the website said.
By Vicky Shaw
23 Apr 2024
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